Tasmania profits from GM-free canola

The Tasmanian Greens have said that the decision by
Roberts Ltd. to stop selling canola seed into the Tasmanian market was a clear
signal that contamination of canola seed in Australia was a real issue for other
states.

It also implicates that the biotech companies who promote genetically
engineered (GE) crops and boast that GE crops and seeds can be securely
segregated have misled the producers and consumers of Australia.

Greens
Shadow Primary Industries spokesperson Kim Booth said that the upside of Roberts
withdrawal was that there was a clear market opportunity for Tasmanian
growers.

They could become a hub of GE-free
canola seed production as
well as promoting the island as an exporter of premium GE-free bulk
canola.

This kind of differentiation was exactly the kind of value adding
avenue that will sustain and nurture Tasmania's agricultural sector, he
said.

Government back-up needed"Tasmanian farmers
now clearly have a massive financial opportunity to become suppliers of the
potentially lucrative 100% GE-free canola seed and canola for food consumption
throughout the world, but the State government must come up with a strategy that
will enable our farmers to seize this unique opportunity," Booth
said.

Australia is one of twenty canola producers world-wide but only two
grow GE canola, Canada and the USA. Just two countries trade canola
internationally with Canada supplying around 70% and Australia about
30%.

"If
Tasmania stands strong and maintains its GE-free status, with a zero threshold
for GE contamination, and quarantine in place, Tasmania has the opportunity to
be the GE-free canola seed developer and supplier to Australia and the world,"
Booth added.